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Just recently, the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) decided to revoke the label for grassfed meats. Farm and consumer organizations had worked hard to acquire a label for grassfed meat, which would give the consumer indication that the cows (from which the meat came) fed on grass, not feed. If a label was 100% grassfed, then the consumer knew that the cows had never been given any grain.

According to the USDA, the AMS did not have the legal authority to create the standards for grassfed meat, claiming instead that only the Food Safety Inspection Service has that power. Instead of allowing all agencies to come to an agreement on labeling standards, the USDA instead decided to throw out the label altogether.

What does this mean for you? You can no longer rely on labeling to know whether or not the meat you are buying is grassfed at the grocery store. Even if a company or farm says their meat is grass fed, since there is no label standard, it really has no meaning.

What can you do? Make friends with a local farmer! Find a good farmer and buy your meat directly from the source. You can even go in with a few friends and buy in bulk; you are likely to get a discounted price that way! Buy your meats through a reputable grocer who REALLY cares about the quality of food they carry and knows the companies from which they buy. If you are local to Dallas we love Green Grocer Micro Market on Greenville.

Depression can affect individuals of all ages and can be hard to predict and understand. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, it can be hard to know what to do to help. Pharmaceutical treatment can lead to a wide host of negative side effects. Diet can support your brain chemistry, whether or not you are on pharmaceutical treatments for depression.

certain foods contain precursors for neurotransmitters that can help to balance them out

processed foods can have a negative impact on brain health and affect your neurological biochemistry

alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of depression

eating a whole-foods based diet is the best first step you can take towards eating for optimal brain chemistry

Naturopathic care, including a hands on nutritionist, can be very helpful for people dealing with depression. Stress management, relationships, self-care, sleep, and a proper diet are integral components to battling depression. Changing your diet is a great way to take your health into your own hands and show self-love to help overcome depression.

If you have been newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease, you may be struggling to navigate the gluten-free world as you try to improve your condition and health. Going gluten-free can be daunting, but luckily our society is continuing to improve on accommodating people who need to avoid gluten. Certain strategies can help you succeed with transitioning into a gluten-free lifestyle.

knowing what foods contain gluten (there are some hidden ones you may not even think about!)

knowing what non-food items contain gluten (did you know most shampoo is not gluten free?)

learning about restaurants in your area that cater to gluten-free individuals

learning to cook gluten-free

how to grocery shop while avoiding gluten

cross contamination knowledge

finding social support as you take on this challenge

At Holistic Wellness, we frequently work with individuals on how to transition into a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. By providing guidance and support, we help clients make these necessary dietary changes in a manageable way that is realistic for each person.

Problems with your thyroid hormone can be an incredibly frustrating experience. Whether your thyroid is overactive or underactive, thyroid imbalances can cause problems maintaining a healthy body weight by negatively affecting your metabolism. Thyroid disorders can also lead to changes in energy, fertility issues, change in bowel habits, changes in heart rate, changes in mental health, sleeping too much or too little, and muscle tone shifts. While diet may not be able to reverse a thyroid condition, certain nutritional components can support your body while you get your thyroid hormone back to normal levels.

Selenium is an important mineral for converting thyroid hormone into its active form

Iodine levels are often askew in people with thyroid disorders, so iodine-rich foods can help support adequate iodine levels if you are low.

Adaptogenic foods may help balance your thyroid hormones if they are too high or low.

Gluten can cause your body to produce thyroid antibodies, so going gluten-free may be beneficial for improving your thyroid health

chlorophyll can help support thyroid function

By using dietary strategies while working to normalize your thyroid hormone, you may see improvements at a faster rate while improving your energy at the same time.

At Holistic Wellness, we believe that diet is a crucial foundation of optimal health. Nutrition plays such an important role in overall health and wellbeing. If we want to feel and look our best, we need to eat foods that are going to nourish and support our bodies. Because of this, one of the first topics we address with clients is how to optimize one’s nutrition and eating habits in a realistic way for each individual. We realize that everybody has different nutritional needs – based on their gender, age, activity level, genetics, and environment. Figuring out your unique nutritional needs is an ideal first step towards achieving optimal health.

While dietary requirements differ among each individual, adopting a non-processed, whole-foods diet based on both animal and non-animal proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and seeds is a foundational shift from which most everyone can benefit. Once you switch to a cleaner diet, tweaks can be made to support your individual needs. By changing your diet to working with your body instead of against it, you are setting yourself up to become a healthy and vibrant person full of energy and vitality.

Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin condition most common during adolescence that arises due to excess oil production from overactive oil glands in the skin. Genetics play a huge role in the development of acne vulgaris, but environmental factors most definitely contribute as well. Hormone imbalance, smoking, and diet can all contribute to the development of acne.

Skin health is incredibly important. Your skin is the largest organ of the body, and the condition of your skin is a strong indicator of your internal health. Healthy skin is vital for overall health and wellbeing.

Having solid nutrition can drastically improve your skin. Eating a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet can make a huge difference in how your skin looks and feels. Maintaining proper hydration is also critical for having good skin health – drinking lots of water, as well as avoiding dehydrating foods and beverages (such as coffee, alcohol, and sugar) will help make sure your skin cells are hydrated.

Using naturopathic principles – of which diet is a foundation – can be extremely beneficial for skin health without any of the toxic side effects from prescriptions and over-the-counter treatments.

DISCLAIMER
*Kate Naumes holds a Doctorate in Naturopathy (ND) and a Certificate in Midwifery from Bastyr University. She holds a Bachelors in Biochemistry from Mt. Holyoke. Unlike 20 other states, Texas does not yet license Naturopathic Doctors. As such, Kate Naumes ND holds her license in Vermont and acts in Texas as a wellness consultant, not as a physician (MD, DO). These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the recommendations and supplements Dr. Naumes provides are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.